The crack of the bat, the flash of custom cleats, and the unmistakable swirl of personality on the field—Major League Baseball’s Players’ Weekend returned in full force this August, bringing with it a vibrant celebration of individuality, community, and the playful spirit that makes baseball, well, baseball. Across the league, from the storied grounds of Fenway Park to the bustling dugouts of the West Coast, players donned gear that told stories far beyond the box score, reminding fans and teammates alike that the game is, at its heart, about people and passions.
For the Boston Red Sox, Players’ Weekend on August 16, 2025, was more than just another date on the calendar. It was a chance to revisit a cherished tradition: game jerseys emblazoned not with surnames, but with the nicknames that echo through clubhouses and childhoods. The Red Sox, along with every MLB team, suited up in these special uniforms as the league continued its revived Players’ Weekend for a second straight year, following a triumphant return in 2024 after a four-year hiatus.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, a vocal advocate for the nickname jerseys, didn’t mince words when asked about his preference. “I liked when they had the uniforms, to be honest with you,” Cora said Saturday afternoon. “That made it different… I thought it was better three or four years ago.” Cora’s nostalgia wasn’t unique—several players echoed the sentiment, longing for the days when custom monikers brought a burst of personality to the diamond.
Outfielder Rob Refsnyder was quick to agree, recalling his own understated approach: “The only thing that’s really different is the bat. I just had ‘Ref’ on it when I did it. It was pretty boring. But it would be cool to see everyone’s nicknames again. I don’t know why they took them away.”
For right-hander Dustin May, whose fiery red hair and mound presence have earned him the nickname ‘Code Red,’ the tradition is more than just fun—it’s a badge of honor. “Mine would be ‘Code Red,’ that’s the nickname I like. A lot of guys in the minor leagues called me Code Red like my hair. Or Red Alert.”
Lucas Giolito, now with the Red Sox, reminisced about his own Players’ Weekend debut, when he donned ‘Bigfoot’—a nod to his towering frame and a legendary moment of clumsiness in a hotel room. “It was an inside thing, so I put that on my jersey because my only nickname is Gio and that wasn’t creative enough to put on the back,” Giolito explained. “You want it to be relatively creative.”
Creativity, it seems, is in no short supply. Teammates delighted in imagining the perfect nicknames for one another. Cora mused, “I don’t know what (Ceddanne) Rafaela would have on his back. I would put ‘Flacco,’ skinny one.” For Trevor Story, the answer was obvious: “True Story,” a favorite among both players and fans, already appears on his belt. Dustin May suggested ‘Butane’ for Walker Buehler, recalling his early days throwing heat, while Alex Bregman lobbied for ‘El Rey’—the king—for Romy Gonzalez. Reliever Garrett Whitlock, meanwhile, preferred to let teammates decide: “I feel like I can’t give myself a nickname, I feel like that defeats the purpose. I would probably let someone pick the nickname for me.”
But the fun didn’t stop at words. The Red Sox, ever the trendsetters, have a history of embracing bold uniform changes. As the first team to unveil a City Connect uniform back in April 2021—a Boston Marathon-inspired ensemble in yellow and blue—they’ve since phased out their traditional navy jerseys to make room for these fan-favorites. The Fenway Greens, the latest City Connect iteration, have brought a bit of magic to the team’s season: on August 15, Boston walked off for an MLB-leading 10th time, including five victories as the Green Sox. Their record in the original City Connects? An impressive 42-17 all-time, including a 7-3 mark this season.
Even as the Red Sox relished their sartorial successes, Players’ Weekend across the league was buzzing with even more innovation. The 2025 edition encouraged players to showcase not just their on-field skills, but their off-field passions, causes, and appreciation for community. From custom bats to themed cleats, the gear was as much a conversation starter as a performance enhancer.
Take Harrison Bader’s ‘Chug Jug’ bat, a viral sensation that started as a playful training tool and made its way into official play. Or Drake Baldwin’s bat, featuring Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb, and Marcelo Mayer’s Lightning McQueen-themed lumber. Social media lit up with images of these creations, as teams from the Cleveland Guardians to the New York Mets showed off their Players’ Weekend sticks. The Red Sox themselves shared a cheerful “Aloha” on their official channels, highlighting the camaraderie and fun that define the event.
Cleats, too, became canvases for personal stories and philanthropy. The Atlanta Braves worked with players to design shoes that reflected their charitable passions, auctioning them off for nonprofit causes. The Cincinnati Reds partnered with young heroes from local children’s hospitals to paint custom cleats for the team. Spencer Horwitz of the Pittsburgh Pirates wore shoes reminding everyone of the importance of mental health, while the New York Yankees’ Luis Gil showcased gear honoring his daughters. These gestures, big and small, reminded fans that baseball’s reach extends far beyond the field.
Of course, Players’ Weekend isn’t just about gear—it’s about the stories behind the players. Julio Rodríguez, for instance, spent time in the Dominican Republic where he rebuilt a woman’s home devastated by floods, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans and fellow athletes. Yohel Pozo of the St. Louis Cardinals used his first Players’ Weekend in the majors to pay tribute to his son Paul, who suffered a stroke shortly after birth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shared the meaning behind his tattoos—each one a tribute to his daughters—while Francisco Lindor was surprised by his own daughter’s presence at a game, capturing a moment of pure joy.
The weekend was also filled with lighthearted moments. Players swapped childhood nicknames, recounted their first concerts, and participated in social media games that brought fans closer to the personalities behind the uniforms. The Red Sox, for their part, joked about potential emoji nicknames—Jarren Duran’s lizard-like speed earned him a lizard emoji suggestion, while Abraham Toro leaned into his surname with ‘Bull,’ in either word or emoji form.
Manager Alex Cora, ever the realist, couldn’t help but poke fun at the team’s three-hit performance on August 15: “So I know the bats look great, but I bet there’s a lot of guys that are going to go back to their regular bats.” Even amid the festivities, the desire to win remains at the forefront.
As Players’ Weekend heads toward its grand finale with the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania—pitting the Seattle Mariners against the New York Mets—the message is clear: baseball is more than a game. It’s a tapestry of stories, causes, and connections that unite players, fans, and communities. Whether it’s a nickname on a jersey, a cause on a cleat, or an emoji that brings a smile, the spirit of Players’ Weekend endures, reminding everyone why they fell in love with the sport in the first place.
